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1st Ld-Writethru: Xi visits Cuban embassy to mourn passing of Fidel Castro

Xinhua, November 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a visit to the embassy of Cuba in Beijing on Tuesday morning to mourn the passing of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said Comrade Fidel Castro, founder of the Communist Party of Cuba and Cuba's socialist cause, was a great leader of the Cuban people.

"He is a great figure of our times, and his immortal historic contributions to the world's socialist development and support for the cause of justice for all countries will be forever remembered," Xi said.

Xi said he went to the embassy to show that "the Chinese party, government and people stand together with the Cuban party, government and people at this special moment."

"I believe that under the strong leadership of Comrade Raul Castro, the Cuban party, government and people will carry on the will of Comrade Fidel Castro, turn sorrow into strength and continue to make new achievements in national construction and the development of socialism," he said.

Calling Fidel Castro the founder of Sino-Cuba relations, Xi said the Chinese people have lost a "close comrade and sincere friend."

He noted that Cuba was the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with China, and there is special friendship between the two nations.

Xi said China will work more closely with the Cuban comrades to carry forward the friendly relationship between the two parties as well as the two nations to fulfill Fidel Castro's will.

The newly appointed Cuban Ambassador to China, Miguel Angel Ramirez Ramos, expressed sincere thanks for Xi's condolences on behalf of the Cuban party, government and Raul Castro, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

He said Xi's presence showed the friendship between the two countries and the high level of their relationship.

Ramirez said the Cuban party and government will carry on Fidel Castro's work to continuously push forward the development of Cuba-China ties.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, top legislator Zhang Dejiang, top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng, and former Chinese leaders Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao also sent wreaths to the Cuban embassy. Endi